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Virus surveillance by wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) in two Arizona municipalities in Maricopa County, USA (~700,000 people), revealed the presence of six canine picornavirus (CanPV) variants: five in 2019 and one in 2021. Phylogenetic analysis suggests these viruses might be from domestic dog breeds living within or around the area. Phylogenetic and pairwise identity analyses suggest over 15 years of likely enzootic circulation of multiple lineages of CanPV in the USA and possibly globally. Considering10 CanPV sequences are publicly available in GenBank as of June 2, 2022, the results provided here constitute an increase of current knowledge on CanPV diversity and highlight the need for increased surveillance.

Colloidal gas aphron (CGA) based fluid has become very popular in drilling in the last two decades, as it reduces formation damages significantly. In this study, Sugarcane molasses (Mls) was used for the first time as a polymer in CGA-based to investigate its ability to improve the role of aphronized fluid as a drilling fluid. The results showed that increasing the concentration of Mls to 12% (v/v) in CGA-based fluid reduces the drainage rate and increases half-life to 10.6 minutes, resulting in enhanced stability of the aphronized fluid. Also, because of increasing Mls concentration from 1 to 12% (v/v), the yield and the initial gas hold-up decrease to 74% and 299.4 ml, respectively, indicating that the presence of Mls allows less air into the aphron system. Although the rheological properties were improved in this study, the gel strength did not change considerably. Furthermore, the results showed that by increasing the concentration of Mls, the average size of the bubbles decreases, and the particle-size distribution becomes more uniform. Finally, the API filtration test revealed that the higher the Mls concentration in the aphronized fluid, the lower the fluid loss, and at the Mls concentration of 12% (v/v), the fluid loss was estimated at 19.54 ml. A natural polysaccharide with high molecular weight, Mls can be used as a polymer in CGA-based fluid and, thus, improve its performance.

This study examines for the first time the impact of silica nanoparticle on alkaline flooding with the aim of enhancing heavy oil recovery. The results show that the presence of silica nanoparticle and its increased concentration in alkaline-nanoparticle solution may cause an interfacial tension whose rates in equal concentrations of nanoparticle and two types of alkali is greater in the case of sodium carbonate than sodium hydroxide. Also, alkaline-nanoparticle solution - as against pure alkaline solution - has a higher capacity for wettability alteration of the medium from oil-wet to water-wet. In fact, the contact angle can vary from 140° to about 60-40° in the alkaline solution and in the presence of the nanoparticle; this value can reach even about 10°. The phase behavior test also indicated that the presence of nanoparticle in an alkaline solution has no effect on the type of emulsion formed (water-in-oil), and only the number of droplets of water and their size will change in oil. The viscosity test also proved that increase of the nanoparticle's concentration could improve fluid viscosity by 0.6 cp in sodium carbonate solution and 3 cp in sodium hydroxide solution. Moreover, the results of the design of experiments and flooding analysis revealed that in alkaline-nanoparticle flooding, alkali concentration plays a more important role in increasing oil recovery than the concentration of the nanoparticle. Also, the presence of nanoparticle in alkaline flooding up to the optimal concentration of nanoparticle leads to an increase in oil extraction. This rise of oil recovery is about 3% in sodium carbonate flooding and about 11% in sodium hydroxide flooding; also, an increase beyond the optimal concentration will reduce the amount of oil recovery. In addition, the presence of silica nanoparticle in alkaline flooding can reduce formation damage if low concentration of nanoparticle is utilized.

In this study, we initially performed interfacial tension (IFT) tests to investigate the potential of using the Persian Gulf seawater (PGSW) as smart water with different concentrations of NaCl, KCl, MgCl2, CaCl2, and Na2SO4. Next, for each salt, at the concentration where IFT was minimum, we conducted contact angle, zeta potential, and micromodel flooding tests. The results showed that IFT is minimized if NaCl or KCl is removed from PGSW; thus, for solutions lacking NaCl and KCl, the IFT values were obtained at 26.29 and 26.56 mN/m, respectively. Conversely, in the case of divalent ions, minimum IFT occurred when the concentration of MgCl2, CaCl2, and Na2SO4 in PGSW increased. Specifically, a threefold rise in the concentration of Na2SO4 further reduced IFT as compared to optimal concentrations of MgCl2 or CaCl2. It should be mentioned that eliminating NaCl from PGSW resulted in the lowest IFT value compared to adding or removing other ions. Whereas the removal of NaCl caused the contact angle to decrease from 91.0° to 67.8° relative to PGSW and changed surface wettability to weakly water-wet, eliminating KCl did not considerably change the contact angle, such that it only led to a nine-degree reduction in this angle relative to PGSW and left wettability in the same neutral-wet condition. At optimal concentrations of MgCl2, CaCl2, and Na2SO4, only an increase in Na2SO4 concentration in PGSW could change wettability from neutral-wet to weakly water-wet. For solutions with optimal concentrations, the removal of NaCl or KCl caused the rock surface to have slightly higher negative charges, and increasing the concentration of divalent ions led to a small reduction in the negative charge of the surface. The results of micromodel flooding indicated that NaCl-free PGSW could raise oil recovery by 10.12% relative to PGSW. Furthermore, when the Na2SO4 concentration in PGSW was tripled, the oil recovery increased by 7.34% compared to PGSW. Accordingly, depending on the conditions, it is possible to use PGSW so as to enhance the efficiency of oil recovery by removing NaCl or by increasing the concentration of Na2SO4 three times.

Sixty consecutive percutaneous nephrostomies were attempted in 37 patients with a 97-per cent success rate. The patients ranged in age from three to seventy-three years. Twenty-eight attempted nephrostomies were bilateral and 32 unilateral. When possible, the percutaneous nephrostomies were converted into internal ureteral stents by antegrade techniques. In each case of apparent complete ureteral obstruction, the area was successfully negotiated, and an indwelling ureteral stent was placed. In 2 patients, combined antegrade and retrograde techniques were required for successful internal stent placement. There was one failure because of a subcapsular hematoma resulting from multiple punctures with an 18-gauge needle. One major complication occurred when a segmental branch of the renal artery was injured by the nephrostomy catheter.

A study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of lymphangiography in the diagnosis of paraaortic lymph node metastases from carcinoma of the cervix. Thirty-nine patients with diagnoses of invasive carcinoma of the cervix underwent bipedal lymphangiography followed by exploratory laparotomy. In all, 37 required bilateral paraaortic lymphadenectomy, and 2 required paraaortic node biopsy. It was clear that lymphangiographic examination gave high predictive value when negative, but low predictive value when positive.

With the success of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy and the percutaneous techniques of stone removal, conventional stone surgery will be reserved for the more complex cases. In order to reduce the recurrence rate, it is essential that all free calculi be removed at the time of surgery. The authors would suggest careful preoperative evaluation of stones with intravenous urography, tomography, and appropriate oblique and lateral views to determine size, number, and location of all calculi. Retrograde studies with a combination of contrast and CO2 can further define caliceal arrangement and identify obstructed calices or narrowed infundibuli that may require surgical repair. At the time of surgery, complete renal mobilization will facilitate all localization techniques. Elevation of the kidney with cotton tapes allows proper alignment of the x-ray beam and target (kidney and film). If extensive scar tissue or perinephric inflammation prevents adequate mobilization, the more maneuverable dental x-ray unit or ultrasonography will assist in localization of stones. A preliminary film will often provide considerably greater detail than even preoperative tomography. The surgeon needs to select the appropriate film type and exposure technique. Small stones (less than 2 mm) or poorly opacified stones may require use of a film that incorporates an intensification screen for improved resolution and contrast. Multiple small caliceal stones are best managed with careful needle localization prior to pyelotomy or nephrotomy. Anteroposterior and 90-degree views can give effective three-dimensional localization. If there remains any question or if localization is difficult because stones are poorly opaque or nonopaque, ultrasonography is useful to localize peripherally situated stones quickly and is best initiated prior to introducing air into the collecting system. To facilitate the speed of additional intraoperative films, especially once the vessels are clamped, Polaroid film has been shown to give good-quality resolution with reduced development time. At the conclusion of each case, we would suggest nephroscopic inspection of each calix to identify tiny residual fragments that might be missed on the final operative film. With direct visualization, these stones can be grasped effectively or irrigated out. A potential disadvantage to the use of any type of intraoperative localization technique is the possibility that an overly zealous attempt to remove tiny particles will cause unnecessary damage to the kidney. Small particles may pass spontaneously, and their presence is not always incompatible with achieving sterile urine and stable renal function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)